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txbeeguy

was Mint discussion; now Plant nectar source

txbeeguy
17 years ago

BTW, goldenrod produces a darker honey also. One would think with a name like "goldenrod" you'd get a light, golden honey but most likely your lighter color is coming from the assortment of other wildflowers the bees are working. I'd be hard pressed to think of a darker honey than what buckwheat produces.

I've related this before here in the forum but since it's been a good long while, I'll repeat myself (besides, I'm not sure I really ever got an answer). In travels to far northern latitudes (in Russia), I kept running into a very nice, tasty locally produced honey; it is a creamed honey (like most of the world consumes with the exception of America where liquid honey is favored). It has a whitish-yellowish cast to it with a very mild and distinctive flavor. The Russians keep calling it "lime honey". Now, I know I'm not crazy (perhaps some would debate that but nevertheless...), but lime trees should be growing in a tropical environment - not close to the Artic circle! I never could reconcile their term "lime" (as in lime tree) with the fact that Russia ain't a big exporter of limes, or lemons, or oranges, or anything "tropical" for that matter.

A few years went by before I began to understand the tree the nectar came from, was what I know from Appalachia, to be the Basswood tree and yes... that was it: creamed Basswood honey... I knew I recognized that delicious flavor from a previous lifetime! But what I've never been able to understand is how do the Russians get "Lime" from Basswood??? [And I know it isn't just a "translation" problem...not that my Russian is anywhere close to expert level].

Comments (3)

  • scrappyjack
    17 years ago

    I have heard of basswood honey and how good it is, but never had the fortune to taste it. What is a basswood tree? I'm not that far from appalachia. I wonder if there are some around here? Forest Co. Pa. My husband is the beekeeper, I'm the gardener and we each have an interest in what the other is doing. So if I can find something new that the "girls" can forage on I'll plant it.

    I've also have tried creamed honey and found it to be just a little too sugary for my taste. I guess its just that I'm used to liquid honey.

  • txbeeguy
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    For the first time, I've found somewhat of an explanation for the naming convention at:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basswood

    I see it's also called linden tree or formally, Tilia americana.

  • honeyman46408
    17 years ago

    "BTW, goldenrod produces a darker honey also. One would think with a name like "goldenrod" you'd get a light, golden honey but most likely your lighter color is coming from the assortment of other wildflowers the bees are working"

    Pure Golden Rod Honey is light GOLDEN but it is hard to get pure GR honey the dark color comes from the Asters that they work at the same time

    I saw some PURE GR a while back and it came from 600 acers of Golden Rod. Ot had a golden color you dont see often.

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